News

Price of a £100,000 MP

THE main thrust of the MPs’ argument for a pay rise is that their wages should be on a par with GPs and comprehensive school heads (Pay us £100,000 a year, say MPs, News, last week). GPs and headteachers have to gain relevant qualifications before they can work in their chosen professions. It would appear that the only qualification to be an MP is to be very greedy.

John MartinMurray, East Kilbride

THE PENSION POT: With annual wage inflation of about 4% (and if you believe Gordon Brown, general inflation of less than 2.5%) the MPs’ demand is absurd, but when considered in relation to MPs’ gold-plated pension arrangements, it beggars belief.

Actuaries estimate that the capitalised value of an MP’s pension at 60 years of age with 30 years service to be about £1m, and a pay increase would increase the value to around £1.7m. Before the recently